Laughter is a universal language. From animals acting like humans to famous people — Audrey Hepburn, the Three Stooges — in funny scenarios, these vintage pics are sure to bring a smile to your face.
Keep scrolling to see 32 historical photos that will make you laugh.
There's nothing funny about smoking — but try not to smile while looking at this photo.
British film producer James Carreras lights a cigar for a skull held by William Castle, an American film producer and director, circa 1962.
John Pratt/Getty Images
He was a fellow of infinite jest.
Advertisement
This dog is composing the next Great Canine Novel.
An Alsatian dog named Petra answers her fan mail on the British kids' show "Blue Peter," circa 1964.
John Pratt/Getty Images
Life as a writer can be ruff.
Advertisement
Hey, who are you looking at?
Circa 1968, a two-year-old spreads her paint liberally during an art class in London for young children.
Tim Graham/Getty Images
This two-year-old decided to paint outside the box — or, rather, off the canvas.
Advertisement
The human water ski must have fallen out of style.
Circa 1973, Barbara Clack skis on human water skis, Joker Osborn and Ken White, champion skiers at Cypress Gardens, Florida.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
This doesn't look very comfortable.
Advertisement
He has his geese in a row.
A little boy dressed as a policeman holds up a car to allow a gaggle of geese to cross a country road, circa 1934.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
It's hard not to giggle at this gaggle.
Advertisement
It's a zoo in here.
Comet, an elephant from Chessington Zoo, spends the weekend as a waiter at the Trocadero Restaurant in Piccadilly Circus, London, circa 1938.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
The service at this restaurant is wild.
Advertisement
Dinner is served.
Circa 1984, a butler serves a meal to a table of dogs at a restaurant in Knightsbridge, London, to mark the launch of a new dog food.
BIPS/Getty Images
It may be a dog-eat-dog world — but things aren't so bad when you're a pampered pooch.
Advertisement
Someone's on the naughty list.
Circa 1975, a woman is skeptical of a far-from-jolly man dressed as Santa.
Evening Standard via Getty Images
This Santa Claus looks sullen rather than Jolly.
Advertisement
When Batman isn't saving Gotham, he's helping these adorable kids cross the street.
Adam West, in character as Batman, circa 1967.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Hopefully no supervillains were harmed in the making of this road safety video featuring "Batman" actor Adam West. It was filmed in London's Kensington neighborhood in the 1960s.
Advertisement
They're just monkeying around.
The American pop band the Monkees during a silly photo shoot, circa 1967.
Keystone Features/Getty Images
For this photo, Davy Jones buried fellow Monkees band mates Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz up to their necks in sand.
Advertisement
Two heads are better than one.
American actor Mel Ferrer covers his wife, screen icon Audrey Hepburn, in his coat, circa 1956.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
On a road near Paris, France, Audrey Hepburn and her first husband, Mel Ferrer, bundle up.
Advertisement
LeBron would give these b-ballers a seal of approval.
Two seals play basketball at the San Diego Zoo, circa 1950.
Evans/Getty Images
They could score big in the championship tidal match.
Advertisement
"Key change." "Yes, chef!"
Howard Baker's band of bakers, circa 1936.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
It sounds like music is on the menu.
Advertisement
If there's an elephant in the room, proceed accordion-ly.
An elephant listens to accordion music, circa 1940.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
This accordion player is getting a glowing "one trunk up" review.
Advertisement
It's hard to top the classic antics of Moe, Larry, and Curly — aka the Three Stooges.
Circa 1939, Moe Howard plugs his ears as fellow Stooges Larry Fine and Curly Howard slurp soup loudly.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
Larry Fine and Curly Howard slurp soup loudly — much to the chagrin of fellow Stooge Moe Howard, who plugs his ears to drown out the sound.
Advertisement
Even Roman warriors enjoy tea time.
Circa 1956, comedienne and singer Gracie Fields drinks tea with vaudeville entertainer Bud Flanagan.
Monty Fresco/Getty Images
American actress Myrna Loy rows a canoe down a flooded street, circa 1925.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Myrna Loy, an American film, television, and stage actress, illustrates an alternative mode of transportation during inclement weather.
Advertisement
That's one shell of a ride.
The Lusty sisters, Diana and Zena, well-known in show-jumping circles, try out their paces on two turtles, circa 1936.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
Slow and steady wins the race.
Advertisement
This image gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "soap opera."
Circa 1930, tenor Enrico Murzio practices singing while taking a bath.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
Some people think better while taking a bath — and some sing better.
Advertisement
Now that's how you multitask.
British actress Barbara Roscoe cooks while using a hairdryer in her home, circa 1963.
John Pratt/Getty Images
As British actress Barbara Roscoe demonstrates, why go to a salon when you can dry your hair and cook at the same time?
Advertisement
This guy is hogging the spotlight.
Circa 1933, a large pig at a farm in Hertfordshire, England, has a chat with a census taker.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
Sow what? He likes the attention.
Advertisement
What's black and white and read all over?
Circa 1954, fans at Wimbledon make hats from newspapers to shield their heads from the sun.
Fox Photos/Getty Images
A stylish newspaper hat, that's what.
Advertisement
The sky's the limit when it comes to fashion.
Gertrude Shilling, mother of hat designer and milliner David Shilling, with one of her son's characteristically flamboyant hats, circa 1971.
Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images
A horse smiles, circa 1958.
Russell Knight/Getty Images
You'll make a complete foal of yourself.
Advertisement
Why did the chicken cross the road?
A policeman holds up traffic to allow four Egg Chicks to cross the bridge at the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, circa 1966.
Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images
Circa 1960, English comedian Eric Sykes revives the "mass shaving machine."
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Or 12, as the case may be.
Invented in the 19th century, the "mass shaving machine" can shave a dozen men simultaneously. Eric Sykes, an English comedian, demonstrated the device on an unaired pilot for a TV series about 1800s innovations.
Advertisement
Now that's a mouthful.
The Minsky Carnival Showgirls compete in a 1949 spaghetti-swooshing contest.
Keystone/Getty Images
Apparently spaghetti-swooshing contests — in which participants had to polish off a bowl of noodles by only using their faces, lips, and tongues — were a thing in the 1940s.
Next Story
TCS CEO says the business model is 20 years old and it's time to go employee-lite